Combination purse or pocketbook



Jan. 26, 1954 s. KNEE 2,667,199

COMBINATION PURSE OR POCKETBOOK Filed June 3, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR. s/Mo/v KNEE ATTORNEYS Jan. 26, 1954 Filed June 3, 1949 3Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. S/MO/V KNEE BY I duliofia KITTORNEYS s. KNEE2,667,199

COMBINATION PURSE OR POCKETBOOK Jan. 26, 1954 s. KNEE- COMBINATION PURSEOR POCKETBOOK 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 5, 1949 INVENTOR.

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47'7'ORNEYS Patented Jan. 26, V 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE2,667,199 COMBINATION PURSE R POCKETBO OK Simon Knee, Newark, N. J.Application June 3, 1949, Serial No. 97,000

My present invention relates in general to purses or pocket-books, andmore specifically to such an article adapted for use as a purse, awallet and a fitted vanity case.

One object of the invention is to provide a purse or pocket-book whichis of such construction that it can be of relatively small size and yetbe fitted with various devices which are disposed therein, theconstruction and arrangement being such that access may be quickly andeasily had to said devices, selectively and without inter-- ference bythe other devices. For example, the pocket-book may be fitted with amirror, a comb and a nail file to constitute a vanity case, and alsowith a coin holder of the coin-slot type, a bill-fold and a card pocket,all arranged so that access may be readily had to one or more of thesedevices when the purse is opened.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a purse of theU-frame type with a covering which is formed of pliable material suchas, for example, leather, simulated leather, sheet plastic, fabric, etc.and which nevertheless has a definite shape comparable to that of a caseformed of metal or other stiff material. Further, in this connection itis to accomplish this result by the construction of the covering inrelation to the frame of the purse so that the covering extends apredetermined distance outwardly beyond the adjacent sides of the framemembers, and so that when the purse is closed the devices which aredisposed therein form a backing for the covering and thereby hold thepliable covering in smooth condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a purse or pocket-bookhaving an intermediate part which, when the purse or pocket-book isopened, is movable between each of the outer or cover portions, saidintermediate part being movable to one of the outer portions to presentall of the vanity devices contained therein, and being movable to theother of said outer portions to alternatively present all of the otherdevices contained therein, while concealing said vanity devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a purse or pocket-bookwith a secret pocket or compartment which is of simple construction andwhich is so arranged in the purse that access may be conveniently andquickly had thereto by one who is informed of its location.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more fully understood from the following descriptionconsidered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

4 Claims. (Cl. 150-35) an object of the invention In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pocket-book embodying the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the pocketbook open;

Fig. 3 is a view of the inner side of the pocketbook with theintermediate part thereof'in one position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the intermediate part inanother position;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a view of part of the pocket-book, the mirror shown in Fig. 3being removed;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view of part of the pocket-book showing the wallet or billfold unfolded;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the bill fold folded over toshow the card case;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along line Ill-ID of Fig. 9 throughthe intermediate frame portion;

Fig. 11 is a, sectional view taken alongline IIH of Fig. 3;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the mirror removed; and

Fig. 13 is a side end book closed.

. Referring now to the drawings in detail, the purse or pocket-book l0embodying the present invention is of case-like form and comprises threeU-shaped frames I2, I 4 and i6, preferably formed of metal, or othersuitable material, and hinged together at the outer ends of the legsthereof on the common pivots i8 and 20, respectively, frame i4 beingintermediate the outer frames I2 and I6. A flexible outer covering 22 ofpliable sheet material such as, for example, but without limitation,leather, simulated leather, plastic, fabric, etc., is formed from ablank of said material and is clamped in the cross-members and legs ofthe outer frames I2 and It, respectively, said covering extending fromthe crossmember of one of said frames to and somewhat, i. e. a shortdistance beyond the pivots i3 and 20, and being folded as indicated at24 and then extending to the cross-member of the'other of said frames.Thus the covering 22 may be considered as comprising the frame covers 26and 28 of frames I2 and It, respectively, each cover being Joined atthree marginal edge portions to its com-' panion frame and joined toeach other at their. adjacent ends. The three frames i2, and I6 arereleasably held in abutting face-to-face relation, for releasablyfastening pocket-book. [0,

view showing the pocketby strap 3c secured to cover 28, in a suitablemanner as indicated at 32, and provided at its free end with a fasteningelement 3 1 engageable with a companion'snap fastening element 36secured in cover 26. However, it will be understood that other suitablefastening means may be used.

A lining 3B of pliable sheet material is clamped in the outer frame I2and in the intermediate frame 14, said lining extending between thecross-bars of each of said frames, and being coextensive in length withboth of said frames, 2. portion 4!] thereof abutting the inner surfaceof cover 26 in face-to-face relation (Fig. 5). A similar lining 42 isclamped in the outer frame it I and in the intermediate frame It, saidlining extending between the cross-bars of each 'of said frames, andbeing coextensive in length with both of said frames, a portion 44thereof abutting the inner surface of cover 28 in face-to-face relation(Fig. 5). It will be noted that since linings 38 and 42 are coextensivewith their respective frames, that said linings do not extend beyondpivots I8 and 29, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 13. The portions 46 and 48of linings 38 and 42, respectively, which portions are clamped in theintermediate frame it, are secured together by a line of stitching 50extending between the pivoted ends of said frame. It will be understoodthat linings 38 and 42 may be integral, the center 4 thereof beingclamped in the cross-bar of intermediate frame M, or that, as hereshown, said linings 33 and 42 may each be formed of separate parts at,45 and M, 48, respectively, and that all of said separate parts may besecured together as by the line of stitching;50.

A panel or part 52 (Figs. 6 and 12), stitched at three of its marginaledge portions, as indicated at 54, to portion 40 of lining 38 provides amount for a mirror 56, said panel being provided with the slottedportions 58 into which the corners of the mirror are received. Panel 52constitutes the front Wall of a compartment 5Q (Fig.

11) the rear wall of which is constituted by lining portion 4!]. Aretractable compartment 62,

1 preferably formed from a strip of sheet material which has been foldedas indicated at 64, and stitched at one end thereof, as indicated at 66,is

secured at its closed corner portion .68 to the inner surface of panel52 at free marginal edge i 19, thereof, by a rivet T2, or other suitablemeans, for retractable movement into compartment 65.. Marginal edge 19is provided with .a cut-down portion M whereby, when retractablecompartment .62 is positioned in compartment til, the folded portion 64extends above said cut-down portion (Fig. 12) to facilitate theretraction of compartment 62 which is freely pivotal about rivet 12. Itwill be seen from Fig. 3 that when mirror 55 is mounted in panel 52, theretractable compartment 62 is concealed from View whereby saidcompartment is well adapted to serve as a secret bill-holder or secretpocket, the presence. of which would normally not be suspected by oneunfamiliar with the construction of pocket-books l0.

Lining portion 46 is provided with a tab or hold.- er 16, preferablyformed of resilient sheet material and stitched thereto, as indicated at18 (Fig. 3) to provide means for releasably holding various articles inabutment with said lining portion. As here shown, a comb 8B and a nailfile 82 are releasably secured to lining 38 for ready withdrawaltherefrom. However, it will be understood that various other articlesmay be alternatively or additionally secured thereto. It will be notedthat with pocket-book It, opened as shown in Fig. 3,'all of the vanityarticles are readily accessible on lining 38 to constitute a separatevanity section in the pocket-book.

The separate wallet section of the pocket-book is illustrated in Fig.wherein the intermediate frame M abuts frame [2 to make the variousdevices therein readily accessible. A' coin holder 84 of a well-knownconstruction, said'coin holder being of the coin slot type andcomparatively stiff, is secured in any suitable manner, as by rivets 86,to the free end of a flap extension 88, preferably formed of flexiblesheet material and stitched to lining portion 44 as indicated at 90.

The coin holder is readily movable outwardly from lining portion M, flap8!) folding above stitching .99 and serving to pivot the coin holderwhereby the open ends jof the coin slots thereof are angularlypositioned relative to said lining portion for convenient removal andinsertion of coins. The companion lining portion s3 is provided with apanel or part 92 (Fig. 9) which yis secured at three of its marginaledges,-as-by stitching 94, to constitute the front wall of a compartment96 (Fig. 10), said lining portion constituting the rear wall thereof.Said compartment is well adapted to serve as a card or pass case and, ifdesired, may be provided with a window 98 for displaying anidentification card or pass, etc., in the customary manner. A bill fold1:05! preferably formed from a strip of flexible sheet material issecured to lining portion 48, between panel 92 and the cross-member ofintermediate frame M, by the line of stitching I02 (Fig. 81) and isprovided on its inner surface with the spaced bill retaining parts l-Mstitched thereto by the line of stitching I06. The bill fold :is pivotalabout stitching 102 to extend outwardly of frame M, as in Fig. 9, toreveal window 88.. When opened, a portion H38 of the bill fold extendsoutwardly of said cross-member to facilitate the insertion and removalof bills therefrom. The bill fold is releasably fastened by a snapfastening h element H0 inthe free end H2 thereof, which end overliesportion I08 in the closed position of the bill fold, to releasablyengage a companion snap fastening element .1 M in the latter portion. Itwill be noted from Fig. 4v that the closed bil-l fold fits within frame14 and overlies panel 92, and that with the pocket-book opened, as insaid figure, all of the wallet articles or devices are readilyaccessibleon lining 42 to constitute aseparate wallet section in thepocket-book.

Referring to linings 38 and 42 it will be understood that panel 52 andtab 16 are stitched to the former, and that panels 88 and 92, and billfold mil are stitched to the latter, all prior to the mounting of thelinings on their respective frames. It will be observed that the outercovering 22 is shaped so that the portions thereof, which form theopposite outer covers 26 and 28 of the pocket-book, each have threemarginal edge portions which are substantially the same length as theparts of the frames i2 and it in which said marginal edge portions aresecured, respectively. Cover 22 is wider than frames 12 and 16 so thatwhen said marginal'edges are secured to the companion frames l2 and It,the body portion of said covering lies outwardly of the adjacent framesI2 and it, as shown in Fig. 13. The cover is dimensioned in respect toits width and in respect to the devices such as, for

example, themirror 56, the bill foldl-M, the card such thickness thatwhen the pocket-book is closed,the space between the confrontingsurfaces of lining 38, and the space between the confronting surfacesoflining-42 is substantially completely filled by said devices, and saidcover parts and 28 are thus stiffened and prevented from wrinkling orbecoming deformed. 'As' a result, the pocket-book although having a.covering formed of pliable material is comparable in smoothness andappearance of definite predetermined shape with acase formed of metal orother stiff material.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in various waysother than as herein specifically illustrated and described and that oneor more features of the invention may be used without others. It willalso be understood that various of the devices secured to the liningsmay be differently arranged, added to, or deleted, all within the scopeof th invention and without departing from the underlying idea thereof.Likewise, it will be apparent that various changes in the details ofconstruction and in the arrangement of parts may be made withoutdeparting from the underlying idea or principles of the invention withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Certain features shown but not claimed herein are claimed in mycontinuing application Serial No. 336,485, filed February 5, 1953.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A pocket-book or purse having three hinged U-frames which define thetop and opposite side edges of the pocket-book, the legs of said framesbeing substantially of the same length as the side edges of theocket-book, a flexible covering formed of pliable material secured tothe two outer frames, said covering being formed of a blank which iswider than said frames whereby the securement of the opposite marginalside edges of the blank to the legs of said frames results in expandingthe covering outwardly beyond the outer sides of the outer frames,respectively, the covering at each side of the pocketbook extending fromthe cross members of said outer frames to a point outwardly beyond thehinged ends of the legs of said frames and terminating at said point, alining member secured to the inner frame and extending from thecrossmember thereof to the hinged legs thereof, said lining member beingsubstantially of the same Width as said inner frame, and article-holdingmeans attached to said covering on the inner side thereof, andadditional article-holding means attached on both sides of said liningmember, all of said article-holding means being disposed in the spacebetween the frame covering when the pocket-book is closed.

2. A pocket-book or purse comprising an intermediate and two outerU-shaped frame members all hingedly secured to each other on a commonpivot at the outer ends of their respective leg members, said framesbeing coextensive and in abutting side-by-side relation to each other inthe closed position of the pocket-book, a one piece flexible coveringmarginally secured in the two outer frame members and extending acrossthe hinged ends of said frame members in a position adjacent to saidhinged ends, said outer covering being disposed at opposite sides of thepocket-book in the closed position thereof and the parts of the outercovering at each side of the pocket-book being substantiallycoextensive, a lining member secured in position at the inner s sideofeach part of the outercovering at each side of the pocket-book andextending fromlthe cross member thereof to the hinged legs thereof,

and further continuing to the cross member of the intermediate u framemember, said lining members being secured to said intermediate U- framemember and to each other-abutting faceto-face relation, whereby saidintermediate U- frame member and associated lining members will formastructural element adapted to support article holding means.

3. A pocket-book or purse comprising an intermediate and two outerU-shaped frame members all hingedly secured to each other on a commonpivot at the outer ends of their respective leg members, said framesbeing coextensive and disposed in abutting side-by-side relation to eachother in the closed position of the pocket-book, a flexible coveringsecured in the two outer frame members and extending across the hingedends of said frame members in a position adjacent to said hinged ends,said outer covering being disposed at opposite sides of the pocket-bookin the closed position thereof and the parts of the outer covering ateach side of the pocket-book being in coextensive relation, a liningmember secured to said intermediate U-frame member, and additionallining portions extending from a position adjacent the hinged ends ofsaid frame members to the cross members of each of said outer framemembers, said additional lining portions secured in position to theouter frame members on the inner side of the flexible covering and inabutting face-to-face relation with said parts'of the outer covering ateach side of the pocket-book, said lining member secured to saiditnermediate U- shaped member being substantially of the same width asthe latter and substantially coextensive with said additional liningportions in th closed position of the pocket-book.

4. A pocket-book or purse comprising an intermediate and two outerU-shaped frame members all hingedly secured to each other on a commonpivot at the outer ends of their respective leg members, said framesbeing coextensive and disposed in abutting side-by-side relation to eachother in the closed position of the pocket-book, a flexible coveringsecured in the two outer frame members and extending across the hingedends of said frame members in a position adjacent to said hinged ends,said outer covering being disposed at opposite sides of the pocket-bookin the closed position thereof and the parts of the outer covering ateach side of the pocket-book being in coextensive relation, a liningmember secured to said intermediate U-frame member, and additionallining portions extending from a position adjacent the hinged ends ofsaid frame members to the cross members of each of said outer framemembers, said additional lining portions secured in position to theouter frame members on the inner side of the flexible covering and inabutting face-to-face relation with said parts of the outer covering ateach side of the pocket-book, said lining member secured to saidintermediate U-shaped member being substantially of the same width asthe latter and substantially coextensive with said additional liningportions in the closed position of the pocket-book, and article holdingmeans associated with both sides of said lining member secured to saidintermediate U-frame member and additional article holding meansassociated

